Norwich officials say fireworks show set for July 5

With more than $15,000 in the bank, organizers of Norwich’s fireworks show promise that next week’s display is set to go off without a hitch.

Adam Benson

With more than $15,000 in the bank, organizers of Norwich’s fireworks show promise that next week’s display is set to go off without a hitch.

“We’re having the fireworks on the 5th,” Norwich Fireworks Committee chairman Michael Franklin said. “We are strictly focusing on the fireworks this year, so there’s not a bunch of extracurricular things this year that are going to cause extra expenses.”

In June, the committee said it was facing a $25,000 funding shortage after Joyal Property Management, last summer’s title sponsor, pulled out of the event because of a scheduling conflict.

The Plymouth, Mass.-based company is overseeing a $750,000 renovation of the Marina at American Wharf complex. Company officials made a smaller financial contribution to help the July 5 event.

The fireworks will launch from a barge in the Thames River in the city harbor. Howard T. Brown Memorial Park will be open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. to accommodate crowds who want to watch the festivities from downtown, though the fireworks committee is not spending any money on activities in the park this year.

Last summer, activities were held from noon to 10 p.m. at the waterfront area, including live entertainment, children’s ride and games and face painting. Organizers expanded programming to run over two days, costing roughly $80,000 from private contributions.

City Accountant Anthony Madeira said on Friday the committee has $16,000 saved up for the fireworks this year.
Franklin said the committee scaled back its investments in spin-off events around the fireworks, preferring to spend as much money as it could on the pyrotechnics themselves.

And donations from private entities, such as American Ambulance, Harp & Dragon and ShopRite have helped to fill any financial shortfall.

Scott Capano, who owns the Harp and ShopRite, won approval from the city to set up a 350-person dining area on the top level of the Market Street garage on fireworks night. Proceeds will go toward the committee’s expenses.

Capano said he expects to donate up to $5,000 from the function, and a silent auction fundraiser in late May contributed another $5,000.

Franklin could not immediately say how much this year’s show will cost.

“Between the sponsorships that we’ve gotten and the silent auction event, we have the funds to move forward,” Franklin said.